Synopsis: The apocalypse is not only near, but a certainty. Set before the event and the aftermath detailed by the hit manga, this stand-alone prequel light novel series chronicles the inexorable approach of the reign of vampires. Witness the trials of Guren Ichi­nose, who must hide his true strength even as he is trampled on at an academy for the insufferably privileged.

Turns out the author answers this question in the afterword of the first volume: “…this book is being released at the same time as issue one of the manga…It would make me very happy if the fans read the novel and the manga at the same time. But since both the protagonists (the hero of the manga series is named Yuichiro Hyakuya) and the concepts are different, you can definitely enjoy one without reading the other…”

I am 4 chapters in and there are things that I know from the manga that pop out at me as I read the LN. Think it could be read first since they do describe what’s going on, though, but hard for me to say given I already have the knowledge. Also note that the anime had an anime only ending and the manga just entered what seems like will be its final arc.